1. Applications are invited from print/on-line, radio and television journalists employed by the local media in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Newly Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (FSU).
2. Entries must address issues related to drug use and HIV/AIDS. Entries will be judged for their success in portraying the complex realities of those wrestling with drug use and/or work with them. A focus on HIV/AIDS treatment and/or prevention is not required, though welcome.
3. Each entrant may enter only once but may submit up to three (3) reports on the same subject.
4. All entries must have been published/broadcast in the general news media between 1 November 2002 and 31 January 2004.
5. Entries may be submitted in any official language of the CEE/FSU region but must be accompanied by an adequate translation into English or Russian. The Application Form and all supporting documents must be submitted in English.
6. Where the entry is a collaborative effort, all major contributors should be included, including producers, researchers, journalists and editors, at the time the entry is lodged.
7. Each entry must be made with the written consent of the author. Others may nominate a journalist for the Prize. However, the entry will only be accepted if the journalist has agreed to the nomination through signing the entry form.
8. All entrants are required to establish their bona fides as journalists and must certify that the entry is their original work, apart from normal sub-editorial/production treatment.
9. All entrants should declare any subsequent formal corrections, challenges to the accuracy of an entry or claims of plagiarism or defamation against the work.
10. Entrants should keep copies of all material submitted, as entries will not be returned.
11. The deadline for entries is 15 February 2004.
12. One overall winner and one runner-up will be selected by an independent jury. Both nominees will receive a Real Life Matters Certificate and a scholarship to participate in the 15th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm to be held in Melbourne, Australia, on 20-24 April 2004. In addition the winner will receive a financial award of US$ 2,000. The scholarships and the financial reward are generously awarded by the International Harm Reduction Development Programme of the Open Society Institute.
13. The International Federation of Journalists and the Open Society Institute reserve the right to utilise all material submitted for presentation and media use, to reproduce it for the purpose of promoting Real Life Matters and for allowing a telecast of the awards presentation ceremony.
14. Journalists employed by the International Federation of Journalists and the Open Society Institute in any capacity shall not be eligible to submit an entry.
15. An independent three-person jury made up of two respected media professionals and one drugs and HIV/AIDS expert will examine the entries and choose one overall winner and one runner-up.
16. The decision of the jury is final. The jury has the right to reject an entry, which, in their opinion, does not comply with the requirements of the competition. The International Federation of Journalists and the Open Society Institute reserve the right to withdraw a Prize if it is later found the entrant did not comply with the entry conditions.
17. Prize winners will be chosen on the basis of journalistic excellence.
18. The jury will consider the entries in relation to the objectives of promoting wider understanding and awareness of the complex realities of drug users and people with HIV/AIDS in the CEE/FSU region.
19. The jury will also consider:
a. Newsworthiness and relevance of the information
b. Research required to gather information, resources available and effort expended in the preparation of the work
c. Quality of writing, originality, presentation and respect for ethical principles
d. Impact of the work and its public benefit
20. Entrants must submit the following:
Print journalists must supply a full-page sample as well as a high-quality photocopy of each article. Where original samples are not available, high quality photocopies will be accepted. Please make sure that the name of the author and the date of publication is clearly indicated on all copies. Where this information is not clearly indicated, a senior editorial manager must certify that the entrant is the author of the work and that it was published on the said date.
On-line journalists must send their articles on a floppy disk or CD-ROM in HTML format OR an Internet address that can be viewed (unaltered) for judging from February to April 2004. A senior editorial manager must certify that the entrant is the author of the work and that it was published on an Internet site on the said date.
Radio journalists must supply a standard audio-cassette of the report along with a copy of the script. The entry should be on a clearly labelled tape, bearing the name and telephone number of the entrant and the duration of the entry. A senior editorial manager must certify that the entrant is the author of the work and that it was broadcast on the said date.
Television journalists must supply a standard VHS tape of the report along with a copy of the script. The entry should be on a clearly labelled tape, bearing the name and telephone number of the entrant and the duration of the entry. A senior editorial manager must certify that the entrant is the author of the work and that it was broadcast on the said date.
Entries may be submitted in any language of the CEE/FSU region but must be accompanied by an adequate translation into English or Russian. The Application Form and all supporting documents must be submitted in English.
Please send your entry to:
Real Life Matters
Att.: Ann-Christina Hansen
International Federation of Journalists
International Press Centre Résidence Palace
Second Floor, Bloc C
155, rue de la Loi
B-1040 Brussels
Belgium
Phone: +32 2 235 22 12
Fax: +32 2 235 22 19
E-mail: [email protected]
All entries should be clearly marked Real Life Matters
